Well, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman more than made up for his attitude toward Southern cuisine during his time along the Red River. Evingson proved to be the poster boy for the rebirth of the Mudbugs.

After 15 years as a professional organization, the franchise returned from a subsequent five-year dark period as part of the North American Hockey League, a Tier-II junior league.

“Our vision for the Mudbugs was to develop players and move them on,” head coach Karlis Zirnis said. “Winning comes afterwards. It was about growing on the ice and off the ice and make sure they were heavily involved in the community.”

Evingson captured Defenseman of the Year honors in the NAHL last season after leading all blue-liners with 52 points (12 goals, 40 assists). He committed to play hockey at UMass-Lowell. Last week, the 19-year-old, became the first player in the history of the franchise to be drafted after playing in Shreveport when the Winnipeg Jets snagged him in the seventh round.

“You think about it your whole life, and then it finally happens,” said Evingson, who completed Winnipeg’s five-day developmental camp Friday. Now, he will head to college, and the Jets will hold Evingson’s rights throughout his career with the River Hawks.

The Jets’ final selection of the draft was a victory for the Mudbugs and the NAHL. When Shreveport returned to the ice, some fans questioned what the new style of hockey would offer.

“We told them we’d have players move onto the NHL, but I don’t think anyone believed us," Zirnis said. "They were skeptical, but throughout the year, they saw what the game was all about -- fast-paced and physical -- and they loved it.”

The Mudbugs qualified for the playoffs in their inaugural season and are seeing success off the ice, too. The ice-level suites on George’s Pond are already sold out for the 2017-18 season.

"I'm proud to be a Mudbug and I’m proud to be in Shreveport," Shreveport's general manager Scott Muscutt said. "Last year, when we shook the fans' hands and said, 'Thank you for coming.' They said, 'No, thank you for bringing our Mudbugs back.'

After being drafted by thw Winnipeg Jets of the NHL last week, Croix Evingson (left) participated in the team's developmental camp this week.(Photo: Jonathan Kozub / Winnipeg Jets H)

"What's happened with Croix and the guys going on to college is all good, but there is nothing better than seeing smiles on fans' faces."

“Our continued success and record number of NCAA commitments and steady selection of NHL draft picks is the direct result of our ownership groups, the talent level of players, our experienced coaches, the development and continued relationships with the NCAA and NHL, and the performance and advancement of players once they leave the NAHL,” said NAHL commissioner and president Mark Frankenfeld. “We want to keep that momentum and stability going in the right direction. We want to make sure we are doing what is best for the players.”

This year, 270 (a new league record) players in the NAHL committed to play college hockey.

Evingson was one of seven Mudbugs from the 2016-17 roster to commit (Kieran Durgan, Air Force Academy; Kyle Kawamura, University of Maine; Dyllan Lubbesmeyer, Robert Morris University; Steven Mather, St. Norbert College; Frankie Melton, Ferris State University; Eriks Zohovs, University of Massachusetts-Lowell).

“The opportunity to play for an expansion franchise – it was a clean slate for everyone to come in there, no matter where we came from,” Evingson said. “They treated us well there. I knew going in I’d have a good chance to make a statement there, and I thought I did that.

“I really enjoyed my time there. The fan support was second to none. It was a really cool experience. The town was invested in the team, and that was huge. They believed in us the whole time.”

The Mudbugs earned NAHL Franchise of the Year honors in Year 1 and continued an unfathomable NHL tradition.

Brandon Walker, a former Mudbugs broadcaster, is the Manager of Hockey Operations for the Nashville Predators. Steve Mears, another former broadcaster for the teal and purple, was recently hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Prior to his new gig, Mears was a play-by-play guy for the New York Islanders and a host for NHL Network.

"Croix provides an inspiration," Muscutt said. "The NHL seems like it’s a long way, but that's a pretty broad range (of former Mudbugs in the NHL) if you are seeking hope."

The NAHL boasts 13 NHL draft picks over the past three seasons. Per the NAHL, 75 percent of of its college commitments are to NCAA Division-I programs. And, last season, 25 percent of all college freshmen who played Division-I hockey were alumni of the NAHL.

“I think we are getting players hungry to succeed, but who have yet to reach their true potential,” Frankenfeld said. “Our calling card has become getting players committed while they are playing in the NAHL. That is a testament to the way they are developing once they start playing in the NAHL. That development is thanks, in large part, to the coaching they receive and the rigorous schedule they have on and off the ice during an eight-month season where they are playing 60-70 games a year.”

Saturday, as he feverishly packed for a big summer, it was impossible for Evingson to disagree.